Runner is a high-quality educational game designed by the University for Industry (UfI/"learndirect") to attract young adults who find learning in formal educational contexts difficult. A case study evaluation of this novel application of an adventure game genre to literacy learning is discussed, based on observations and interviews in three UK learning centres. We argue that (1) the success of this game in engaging with the target population calls for its consideration as an acceptable learning approach in an otherwise rather unimaginative curriculum world and (2) that learners made significant literacies gains beyond those expected by the game designers, UfI and the learners themselves. (Contains 1 figure, 2 notes and 1 table.)